Most of the dentists meet the standard of care for every patient that they treat. However, dentists can sometimes violate that standard of care, which constitutes dental malpractice. Dental malpractice can be of following types:
Failing to Diagnose or diagnosing incorrectly
Failure to diagnose prevents you from seeking treatment. This could cause health complications. Sometimes a dentist notices a problem but incorrectly diagnoses it and recommends a treatment that will fail to resolve the problem.
Failing to Notify the Patient of Dental Problems
Sometimes dentists recognize that a dental condition exists, but they don’t tell the patient. This can have severe consequences for patients, particularly those with oral cancer or gum disease.
Treating the Wrong Tooth
If your dentist performed treatment on the wrong tooth, then it is severe form of dental malpractice.
Performing Unnecessary Treatments
You are recommended a crown for a perfectly healthy tooth, instead of the damaged one. However, this type of dental malpractice could also involve dentists who recommend treatments that are completely unnecessary for any of the patient’s teeth.
Causing Severe Injury during Treatment
Sometimes the dentist causes injuries that include severe nerve damage, unnecessary lacerations, or harm to the jaw bone or teeth.
Using Unsterilized Dental Equipment
Dentists use and reuse their equipment on different patients, without sterilizing. As a result, patients could contract illnesses or diseases or even develop a dangerous infection.
If you believe you experienced malpractice at a dental appointment, don’t hesitate to consult with a dental malpractice attorney California that handles dental malpractice cases.